Page 10 - Oct - Dec 2020

DID YOU KNOW?
Dotara is a plucked string
ENCHANTING EAST instrument which is traditionally
Because of the importance of the rivers in Bengal, there are many songs used by spiritual singers. The
surrounding it. While in Odisha, songs focus on life and society! In Assam, instrument usually has two
the famous Bihugeet is popularly sung during festivals. strings as the name
suggests.

BAUL BALLADS CHILDREN’S SONGS

WEST BENGAL ODISHA
Baul musicians are Odisha is known for a
wanderers. This form of number of unique songs
music was recognised that are sung for various
in 2005 as UNESCO purposes. One very
World Heritage. Their important kind is the play
songs preach a life of songs. Besides this, music
spirituality and they is often accompanied
are believed to worship by fascinating dances.
with music. The lyrics Chilollai is a kind of
Image by: Nirmalya Mandal, Class 8 B,
Image by: Adrija Bhattacharjee,
are in Bengali. They are Apeejay School, Park Street, Kolkata song sung while playing Class 7 A, Apeejay School, Park Street,
mystic minstrels who aerobic games. Sajani Kolkata
follow Sufi sm as well as Geet is sung while sitting
Vaishnavism. They are a religious sect as well as a singing on a swing.
musical group. Gho Gho Rani

Subhaditya Roy Choudhury, Class 6, Delhi Public School, Megacity,
Kolkata; Shaurya Aryamaan Tandon, Class 8 C, Delhi Public School, Gho Gho Rani is another
Mathura Road, Delhi song sung during a game.
Theme The lyrics go like this:
Baul songs from West Bengal deal with love and religion. େଘା େଘା ରାନୀ
Baul singers are known for their mysticism. Gho gho rani
anthen anthen pani
Ahana Sangui, Class 8 C, Navy Children School, Dabolim, Goa
Gho gho rani Illustration by: Kiara Arora, Class 4 G,
Baul Song Janghe janghe pani The Heritage Experiential Learning
School, Gurugram
Everyone asks: “Lalan, what’s your religion in this world”
(O, gho gho rani, the water is
Lalan answers: “How now knee deep! O gho gho rani, the water is now waist deep!).
does religion look”
I’ve never laid eyes on it.
Some wear malas ACTIVITY: BAUL
[Hindu prayer beads] BEAUTY
around their necks,
Some tabeez [Muslim Baul musicians create
prayer beads], and so a beautiful image with
people say their colourful clothes,
they’ve got diff erent instruments, and a
religions. facial expression that is
But do you bear the sign mesmerized by the music.
of your religion
Look at the drawing given
when you come or here of Baul singers and
when you go?
make a similar illustration of
Image by: Nirmalya Mandal, Class 8 B, your own! Illustration by: Ahana Sangui,
Apeejay School, Park Street, Kolkata Class 8 C, Navy Children School,
Dabolim, Goa

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